Former bishop sentenced to more than six years in prison for sexually abusing young Aboriginal men

Former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, has been sentenced to over six years in prison for sexually abusing young men, according to prosecutors. The convicted cleric, once one of the most senior Catholic officials in the country, was found guilty of multiple offences against two Aboriginal men when he served as bishop in a remote part of Western Australia, an area three times larger than England.

Saunders was convicted of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault, all committed against young Indigenous men at various locations, including the bishop's residence in popular tourist destination Broome and a retreat known as the "beach house."

The assaults, which took place over several years, included unwanted touch, kissing, grabbing of private parts, and one instance of oral sex without consent, as reported by the court. Saunders was accused of offences against three men but was found guilty of charges related to two of them. Judge Martin Flynn handed down a total effective sentence of six and a half years, with the prisoner eligible for parole in February 2031.

Judge Flynn read a statement from one of the victims, who described their pain and anguish. Saunders, who chose not to give evidence in his defense, showed no reaction after the sentencing.